The 35-year-old made his 389th and final appearance on Sunday evening as Bradford Bulls suffered a narrow 24-20 defeat to Toulouse Olympique in a gripping play-off semi-final in the South of France.
While the result wasn’t the fairytale ending Lawrence would have hoped for, the five-time Jamaica international leaves the sport with his head held high.
In a touching tribute, both Lawrence and fellow retiree Chris Hill were given a guard of honour by players from both teams after the final whistle – highlighting the respect they’ve earned across the game.
Speaking to fans across his social media pages, Lawrence said: “Well that’s it, time has come for me to say goodbye to the game I love.
“I will be forever grateful to the great game of rugby league for everything it has given me, whether that be countless opportunities, lifelong friendships, and memories I’ll cherish for the rest of my life.
“To my teammates and everyone associated with Bradford Bulls, it’s been an honour to captain this great club over the past three years, and to play a small part in its rich and famous history.
“To all those at Huddersfield Giants, where I spent 16 incredible years, thank you for allowing me to live out my childhood dream of representing my hometown club.
“Finally, to my amazing wife @lauramariamakeup, thank you for your support over the past 19 years. I’m forever grateful for the love, encouragement, and countless sacrifices you’ve made to help me chase this dream.
“Now, I look forward to life after professional rugby league and most of all, spending precious time with my young family.”